Waiting 18 weeks on my first unemployment payment - 5 months and counting

I was laid off as an administrative assistant and filed right away, and I have been certifying every week. I worked as an administrative assistant before this. I called the state line four times and only reached a recording. Has anyone been through this? How long did it take in the end?

When I finally got through, the agent said my employer had responded late. Once that cleared, back pay came in one payment.